2023-06-20
Dowdall 'duped' and put in 'firing line' for Regency murder, lawyers argue
Stage: Appeal
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Photo: Collins) Former Sinn Fein councillor and convicted torturer Jonathan Dowdall, who was jailed for facilitating the murder of Kinahan Cartel member David Byrne, was "duped" and put in the "firing line" for the Regency Hotel attack, his lawyers have told the Court of Appeal. Mr O'Higgins argued that the Special Criminal Court had weighed the consequences of how Dowdall's life was going to "irredeemably" change on becoming State's witness "with a blindfold", that the sentencing court didn't hear the specifics and did not know what the future held for his client. "He could have made his plea, been sentenced, walked out and refused to give evidence," he said.